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Gen-Next
Rising to the occasion
The success wave currently riding the hotel industry has
put the onus on the young brigade to carry on the mantle and emerge as industry
leaders. Suhail Kannampilly, son of Param Kannampilly, director, Concept
Hospitality, and KHIL, shares his views and insights on the Indian hospitality
industry with Bhavika Jhaveri
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Since childhood, I always wanted to be part of the hospitality
industry. I have gained immense knowledge over the years and my father
has been of great assistance
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Being traditionally from a hotel background, Suhail Kannampilly
had always set his sights on the hospitality industry. At the age of 25, Suhail
has stepped out from his father's shadow to take Concept Hospitality to new
heights. "Since childhood, I always wanted to be part of the hospitality
industry. I have gained immense knowledge over the years and my father has been
of great assistance," shares Suhail. Incorporated in 1996, Concept Hospitality,
is jointly promoted by Vithal Kamat, chairman - Kamats Group of Hotel &
Restaurant and K P Kannampilly. It renders professional services including conceptualisation,
promotion, establishment, conduct, registration, management and continuance
of hotels, clubs, resorts, time-share schemes and other undertakings in the
hospitality industry. "With the industry booming and several new players
vying for space in the Indian market, a professional management company is really
required to run a hotel. Today, Concept is a leading management consultancy
in India," avers Suhail.
Starting point
For this chip off the old block, a short career of five years has so far been
a smooth ride. After completing his diploma in Hotel Management and Catering
Technology from Institute of Hotel Management, Mumbai in 2002, he underwent
a two-year management training programme at The Orchid Hotel, Mumbai, after
completion of which he took over as a sales manager. This was followed by a
huge break in his career, in 2005, when he was appointed as an additional director
of the Kamat Hotels (India). Speaking on the hardships he faced during his days
as a management trainee, Suhail says, "Management training is difficult
as it means learning the day-to-day hotel operations within a working environment
in restaurants and hotels. In a lot of management schools you find people leaving
halfway because the job demands a lot in terms of quality, commitment and excellence.
But at the end of it, you have already acquired the essential in terms of work-culture
and knowing how to act in different situations."
At a time when the industry is facing a manpower crunch at lower to mid-management
level due to high attrition rates, Suhail feels that the situation is fast changing
and the hotel industry is turning out to be a lucrative option. "Pay scales
have increased over the last couple years as compared to a few years back. The
lower management level is also getting paid well. Many of our employees who
had joined call centres due to its attractive pay packages are coming back to
the hotel industry, as the job there is monotonous and is shift oriented. Whereas
each day in the hotel industry presents new set of challenges and is a new experience."
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